Fireman&#39;s uniform.



No. 789,145. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. J. DERX.

TIREMAWS UNIFORM.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 28,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses,

PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

J. DERX.

FIREMANS UNIFORM.

APPLICATION rum) APB.28.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

inventor Ht'comegs TINTTED STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT @FFTQE.

FIREIVIANS UNIFORM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,145, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed April 28, 1904. Serial No. 205,364.

To all 11/71/0111 it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB DERX, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Firemans Uniform,-of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a fireproof garment or uniform particularly designed for use by firemen and others compelled to enter buildings filled with smoke or other noxious fumes or gases.

The object of the invention is to provide a comparatively light, inexpensive, and durable uniform of this character which may be worn with perfect comfort and freedom by the fireman and which will enable-him to perform efficient service in extinguishing firc's without the liability of being burned or suffocated by the smoke or other vapors.

A further object of the invention is to provide the garment with an inflatable air reser voir or jacket for supplying the fireman with fresh air and to provide an alarm for indicating when the supply of air in said tank needs replenishing.

A still further object is to provide a novel form of nose-guard or respirator adapted to be inserted in the nostrils and designed to prevent the ingress of smoke and injurious gases through the nasal passages when inhaling and permit the free egress of air when exhaling.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the uniform, showing the same in use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the helmet and mask. Fig. 3

is a detail perspective view of the mouth piece and nose-guard or respirator. Flg. 4 1s an enlarged detall sectional view of one of the valved tubes of the respirator. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the uniform detached. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the air tank or jacket. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the reducing valve or coupling.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawm s.

The uniform 5, which may be made of asbestos or other suitable fireproof material, consists of a coat 6 and trousers 7, the latter being preferably formed integral with the coat, as shown. The trousers 7 are preferably slit at the sides thereof, as indicated at 8, to form a bib 9, said bib being secured in closed position in any suitable manner, as by spring hooks or clasps 10, engaging loops or eyes 11, fastened to the opposite ends of the bib, as shown. The legs of the trousers are preferably extended to form feet 12, the soles of which are reinforced, as indicated at 13, the front portion of the trousers being provided with one or more pockets 14 for carrying small vials of ammonia and similar restoratives for use in cases of emergency.

The coat 6 is preferably fastened in front by spring hooks or clasps 15, similar in construction to the clasps 10, and secured in any suitable manner to the inside of the coat is an air reservoir or jacket 16, formed of rubber, canvas, or other impervious material, said reservoir or jacket being provided with an inflation-valve 17 through which air under pressure may be introduced into said acket. The acket or reservoir 16 is designed to supply the fireman or other person with a constant stream of fresh air while working in a building filled with smoke or other noxious gases, the air from said reservoir being conducted through a flexible pipe 18 to a mouthpiece 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The quantity of air admitted through the pipe 18 to the mouthpiece may be controlled by a valve 20, the threaded collar 21 of which may be adjusted vertically to increase or diminish the size of the air-ports 22, the air from the reservoir passing through openings 23 in the valve-casing 24 and thence through the ports 22 to said pipe, as shown..

The mouthpiece 19 is preferably formed of hard rubber, and secured to said mouthpiece is a bracket 25, which forms a support for a respirator 26. The respirator 26 consists of a pair of tubes 27, adapted to be inserted in the nostrils, said tubesibeing connected to the bracket 25 by a pair of spring-arms 28. Arranged Within the tubes 27 are valves 29, normally held in closed position bysmall coilsprings 30, so as to prevent ingress of smoke and other injurious fumes when inhaling and permit free egress of air when exhaling, as Will be readily understood.

As a means for indicating when the supply ofair in the reservoir or jacket has appreciably decreased I provide a pair of spring-arms or contact-plates 31, secured in any suitable manner to the opposite inner walls of the jacket, said plates being mounted in a block of insulating material 32 and having their fixed ends connected to an electric bell 33,secured to a belt 34 and. placed in circuit with a battery 35, also preferably secured to the belt. The spring-arms 31 are normally held out of contact by the pressure of air on the walls of the jacket, so that when the air in said jacket is nearly exhausted the arms 31 will be drawn together, thereby closing the circuit through the bell 33 and'sounding the alarm. A similar bell 36, having a different tone or pitch from the bell 33 and operated by a push-button 37, is also secured to the belt 34, the object of said bell being to notify the chief or foreman of any danger to the fireman engaged in extinguishing the fire or that help is needed in rescuing the inmates of the building.

I preferably provide each leg of the trousers 7 with a band or garter 38, to which is secured a number of small bells 39, so that when the fireman is working in a room filled with dense smoke, rendering it difficult to distin uish surrounding objects, the sound of the be ls 39 as the fireman moves from place to place will notify his companion of his whereabouts.

In connection with the uniform I use a helmet 40, in the crown of which is secured in any suitable manner a cell or battery 41, which lights a suitable incandescent lamp 42, arranged in advance of a reflector 43, mounted on the front of said helmet, as shown. Depending from the helmet 40 is a mask 44, also preferably formed of fireproof material, said mask being provided with eye-openings or windows 45, each covered by a thin layer of isinglass, mica, or other suitable transparent material capable of protecting the eyes from intense heat and smoke.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of my improved device will be readily understood, and further detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, I claim- 1. In protective clothing, an expansible air-chamber, and an alarm-circuit having contacts movable into engagement with each other when the chamber is collapsed.

2. In protective clothing, an expansible air-chamber, a circuit including an alarm;

and a pair of spring-contacts secured to the inner walls of said chamber, and movable into engagement with each other when the chamber is collapsed.

3. A fireproof uniform comprising a coat and trousers formed integral therewith, an

expansible air-jacket secured to the lining of the coat and adapted to contain a supply of fresh air, a mouthpiece, a respirator carried by the mouthpiece, a tube connecting said mouthpiece with the air-jacket, a valve for controlling the supply of air to the mouthpiece, and means for indicating when the air in said jacket is exhausted.

4. The combination with an air-jacket, of a mouthpiece, a respirator carried by the mouthpiece and consisting of a pair of vertically-disposed tubes adapted to be inserted in the nostrils and each provided with a downwardly-opening spring-actuated valve, a flexible tube connecting the air-jacket and mouthpiece, and a valve for controlling the supply of air to said mouthpiece.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JACOB DERX.

Witnesses:

J. H. JooHUM, Jr., J. Ross CoLrIoUN. 

